Too Dear question and answer for second PUC students. Questions and answers of Too Dear is given for class 12 students. Too Dear notes.
In this post we have discussed Too Dear question and answer for puc second year students.
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Too Dear important questions
Comprehension I
1. Why was ‘Monaco’ called a ‘toy kingdom’?
Ans: Because it had just about seven thousand people.
2. Name the commodities taxed in Monaco.
Ans: Tobacco, wine and spirits.
3. What was the source of the King’s special revenue? Who were its beneficiaries?
Ans: Gaming house was the source of special revenue. Both the King and the keeper of the gaming house were the beneficiaries.
4. Why did the Germans stop gaming houses in their country and how did it benefit Monaco?
Ans: Because the gaming houses caused more harm. Monaco was benefited as it was the only place in Europe that allowed this game.
5. What was the punishment given to the murderer?
Ans: Death sentence / Capital Punishment / Execution
6. The death sentence was converted into life imprisonment because
Ans: (b) Carrying out death sentence was expensive
7. How much did the king spend on the criminal, annually?
Ans: 600 francs a year.
8. On what condition did the criminal agree to go away from the prison? Why was his demand fulfilled?
Ans: That he would be paid his annual pension regularly. To avoid further burden on his maintenance.
Too Dear notes for second PUC
Comprehension II
1. Though gambling is a dirty business, why does the king of Monaco resort to it?
Ans: The king of Monaco ruled a tiny kingdom with a small population of about seven thousand. In that kingdom he was a real kinglet. He had a palace, courtiers, ministers, a bishop, generals and an army to take care of. However, he had very limited sources of income. These sources were insufficient. So, he found a new source of special income; a gaming house where people played roulette. He knew it very well that gambling is a dirty business. But, he had to resort to it for the survival and sustenance of his kingdom.
2. Why did the king of Monaco keep changing his mind in dealing with the criminal?
Ans: When the criminal was sentenced to death, there was only one hitch in the matter; they had neither a guillotine nor an executioner. The ministers then sought the French Government for assistance of 16000 francs. Finding the cost more expensive, the Council decided to write a letter to the King of Italy. Though the cost quoted stood at 12000 francs, it still seemed too much. Even the suggestion of asking one of their soldiers to execute the criminal did not yield results. Later, it was decided to alter the death sentence to one of imprisonment for life. The Prince agreed to this. But it became to more than 600 francs a year. So, they dismissed the guard so that the criminal might run away. But this did not happen. When brought before the Prince to explain why he did not run away, he complained that they had spoilt his character by their sentence. Finally, a Council was called and it considered offering him a pension of 600 francs to get rid of him. Thus the matter was settled. This is how the King of Monaco kept changing his mind dealing with the criminal.
3. Why was the criminal reluctant to go out of the prison?
Ans: Because criminal had nowhere to go. He complained that by their death sentence, they had ruined his character. He was afraid that people would turn their backs on him. Besides, he had lost touch with the way of working. He said he had been treated badly which was not fair. He was not willing to go away from prison as he thought he would be rejected by society as a normal citizen.
4. How did the criminal lead his life after his release?
Ans: After the criminal was released, he received one-third of his annuity in advance, and left the King’s territories. He emigrated and settled just across the border where he bought a bit of land, started market-gardening and lived comfortably. He always went at the proper time to draw his pension. After collecting, he would go to the gaming tables and stake two or three francs. Sometimes he would win and at times, he would lose and return home. Thus, he lived happily.
Comprehension III
1. ‘You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour’. In what context is this statement made?
Ans: The king of Monaco ruled a tiny kingdom with a small population of about seven thousand. In that kingdom he was a real kinglet. He had a palace, courtiers, ministers, a bishop, generals and an army to take care of. However, he had very limited sources of income. These sources were insufficient. So, he found a new source of special income; a gaming house where people played roulette. This was the only place in the whole of Europe where people would come to play. Whether they would win or lose, the Prince gained by it. It is like, ‘You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour’. This statement is true with reference to the context the king of Monaco lived in. He knew it very well that gambling is a dirty business. He also understood that by levying taxes on drink and tobacco for revenue was not a good idea. But, he had to resort to it for the survival and sustenance of his kingdom.
2. Though the trial and imprisonment of the criminal is depicted in a comic mode in this story, it does give rise to serious questions. What are they?
Ans: Though the writer presents the trial and punishment of the criminal in a comic manner, he raises very serious questions. The very method of trial is attacked: how can the jury ignore the practical aspect of judgement while awarding death sentence to the criminal when it does not have the required machinery and man power? Both the crime and punishment are interlinked here to mock at society and its legal and administrative system. For example, in the story crime takes place because of gambling. Ironically, the tiny kingdom does not support crime, but allows gambling. In this context, how can a criminal who is sentenced to life imprisonment reform or face society again because of lapses in legal system?
3. Were there other ways of dealing with crime and the criminal? Discuss in the light of the story?
Ans: First of all, when he found out that gaming houses were forbidden in the entire Europe, he could very well have banned one in Monaco too. It was his risk with the monopoly over the game. Then, when the crime took place in his domains, the criminal was sentenced to death. Here, at this point, he could have used his wisdom and come up with a practical solution to deal with the punishment. Life imprisonment would have been a much better option giving an opportunity for the criminal to reform in the process. Instead of releasing him with an assured pension, the King could have employed him suitably.